45. Leg 11 - SW Coastal Path 45: From Menehay Campsite around St Anthony Head circular

18 April 2024

We headed round to Trewince Farm Touring Campsite on the Roseland Peninsula which is another of Cornwall’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  This walk took us around the southern tip of the Roseland Peninsula to Towan beach. The plan had been to continue the next day but a flat van battery put the kibosh on that plan and instead we did a short walk at Charlestown near St Austell where we managed to find a battery.

1.       The route

2.       Emma’s Wood

3.       we walked to meet the path along the Percuil River and Place where the Ferry links the path from Falmouth.

4.       Walking towards St Anthony looking over to St Mawes Castle.built in 1538 and now owned by English Heritage, the castle was another of Henry VIII’s defences against a possible invasion from the combined forces of the Pope, Spain and France. Built in the form of a clover leaf, the castle retains much of its Tudor design.

5.       St Anthony Head

6.       FromSt Anthony’s Lighthouse: built in 1835, the lighthouse once had the largest bell in Cornwall until it was replaced by a foghorn in 1954.

7.       Porthbeor

8.       Bohortha. Both Kizzy and I were keen for a swim and this would be the best day weatherwise but the cliffs were steep and the beautiful bays below were inaccessible.

9.       Killigerran views to Nare Head and the Dodman from Zone Point.

10.   Towan Beach and an opportunity for Sally and Kizzy to swim. A worrying moment when I realised I’d packed my cycling shorts instead of my swimming costume so an improvised outfit was called for!

11.   Another icecream then back to the van.

 43. Leg 11  - SW Coastal Path 43: Durgan circular via Maenporth

16 April 2024

Returning to the path this time in our new campervan. We hadn’t intended to walk on the first day but we made good time so we headed down to Bosveal car park and walked down to the quiet hamlet of Durgan where we finished last time.  For the first 2 days we stayed and Menehay Farm Touring Campsite, Budock Water on the outskirts of Falmouth.

1.       The Route

2.       Bosloe

3.       Walking along the Helford River looking back to Helford from Grebe Beach

4.       Carwinion

5         & 6 Porth Saxon Beach where Kizzy got her first water fix of the trip.

7         8 9 Skirting the hamlet of Mawnan through woodland with lichen covered trees determined to stay upright despite the steep slopes down to the river.

10 View to Roseland peninsular from Mawnan

11 12 13 14 Bream Cove Gunnera, view to beach and Kizzy in bluebells. 

15 16 17 Maenporth and another swim for Kizzy

18 Back to the car park via Mawnan Smith and a field of cows.  Previous dicey moments have made us wary of cow herds but we came through unscathed!